Bucket return for material and article handling machine



Sept. 18, 1934. Q FRANK 1,973,950

BUCKET RETURN FOR MATERIAL AND ARTICLE HANDLING MACHINE Sept. 18, 1934. L. c. FRANK 1,973,950

BUCKET RETURN FOR MATERIAL AND ARTICLE HANDLING MACHINE Filed July 14, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 U MKM ATTORNEY? Sept. 18, 1934. 1 c; FRANK 1,973,950

BUCKET RETURN FOR MATERIAL AND ARTICLE HANDLING MACHINE Filed July 14. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUCKET RETURN FoR MATERIAL AND ARTICLE HANDLING MACHINE Application July 14, 1932, Serial No. 622,373 9 Claims. (Cl. 214140) This invention relates in general to material handling apparatus and more particularly to apparatus of this character employing a bucket for handling the material and of the type wherein the bucket in discharging ordumping the material swings from its digging or loading position to an inclined discharging or dumping position. More especially the present invention relates to apparatus of this character wherein novel means` l0 is provided for returning the bucket to its digging position from its dumping position.

With previous constructions it has usually been necessary to drop the bucket onto the ground and in some instances to back up the machine in it' order to return the bucket to loading position. This slows up the operation and, it is believed, involves more wear and tear on the bucket. Usually the operator of the machine cannot, from the position or seat which he normally occupies,

observe, upon returning the bucket, whether it has been fully returned and latched in loading or digging position.

With the present invention it is not necessary to lower the bucket to the ground. The operator merely takes up a comparatively slight amount on the hoisting line and this results in automatic returning of the bucket from dumping or discharging position to loading or digging position. An important advantage of applicants organization resides in the fact that the bucket closes with a snap action so that complete return of the bucket and latching of the same in digging or loading position is assured.

Other objects of. the invention are to provide an apparatus of this character and having these advantages and which is simple and durable in construction, reliable and effective in operation, compactly organized, easily controlled and comparatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture. Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, and in which:

Figures l to 4, inclusive, are fragmentary views in side elevation showing an apparatus embody- 0 ing. the present invention and illustrating the 5 bucket and associated parts in various relative positions characteristic of the novel action, portions oi the main machine on which the apparatus is mounted being omitted for the sake of m illustration;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the bucket and associated parts; and

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation similar to Figures 1 to 4, but showing a modied form of the invention.

Referring` to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, it will be seen that the present invention relates generally to a material handling machine, as, for example, a loader. The machine proper per se forms no part of this invention and is designated generally at M.

An implement carrying or lifting frame designated generally at 1 is provided and consists of a pair of lifting arms 2 which may have their rearward ends pivotally mounted as at 2 on the machine M. The lifting arms 2 may be suitably cross connected adjacent their forward ends and may have their forward ends or extensions 3 thereof provided with a seat 3 on which a portion of a bucket 5 rests in the loading or digging position of thebucket. The bucket is pivotally interconnected with the extension 3 by means of a pivot designated at 4. When the bucket is in digging or loading position, latches 6 pivoted on the extension 3 engage catch lugs 7 secured to the bucket to maintain the bucket in such position. The details of this latching mechanism are not herein disclosed but for the details of this latch construction reference is made to my application for material and article handling machine executed June 30, 1932, iiled July '7, 1932, Serial No. 621,201.

For raising and lowering the bucket and lifting arms and controlling the action of the bucket in other respects, a power operated hoist drum shown diagrammatically at 8 is mounted on the machine M and acts through a hoist line 9, suitable pulleys 10 and 10 and a bail 1l to exert its hoisting and controlling action on the bucket 5. The bail 11 is pivotally interconnected with the bucket 5 by means of pivot pins 12. The particular point of attachment of the bail to the bucket may be varied by shifting the pivot pin to either the pivot opening 12a or to the pivot opening 12b. A single hoist line or a multipart hoist line may be employed.

When the latches 6 are disengaged from the catch lug 7 the bucket dumps by gravity but the extent of its swing to dumping position is limited by means of stop chains l5 connected as at 16 to the bucket and as at 17 to the point of interconnection of one set of pulleys 10 with the bail 11.

The set of pulleys 10 is carried on an upright structure 18 and this same structure 18 carries abutments 20 which are engageable with springs 21 secured as at 22 to the lifting arms.

With a machine of this type, when the bucket is being loaded it is usually lowered and the machine is advanced to thrust the bucket into the material to be picked up. When the bucket is filled it is usual to raise the bucket somewhat, at least, whereupon the machine travels to the point at which the material is to be discharged. Assuming now that the bucket is loaded and is in the position shown in Figure 1, it will be noted that the pivots l2 and 4 occupy the positions designated at a and w, respectively, and that there is clearance between the spring 21 and the abutment 20. If the bucket is to be dumped, the operator disengages the latches 6 from the catch lug 7 and the bucket swings by gravity from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2, the stop chains 15 holding it in the position shown in Figure 2. During this change of position the distance resignated as at A remains constant and the pivot 12 travels in an arc from position a of Figure 1 to position a of Figure 2. Likewise, the pivot 12 is moved from the position to the position rc'. The lifting arms 2 are slightly elevated and the springs 21 engage the bumpers or stops 22. To return the bucket to its loading or digging position, the operator causes the drum 8 to turn to take in on the hoist line 9 thereby shortening up on distance A and bringing to what we may indicate as distance B in Figure 3. During the change from the position of Figure 2 to the position of Figure 3, the lifting arms 2 have been further elevated with consequent increased compression of the springs 21 and the pivots 4 and 12 have shifted from the position as and a to the positions cc and a", respectively. In Figure 3, the pivot 12 is almost about to pass through the vertical which intersects the pivot 4, or, in other words, to pass deadcenter position. Consequently, as the operator continues to take up on the hoist line the bucket changes from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 4 and it does this with a snap action inasmuch as the moment the pivot l2 passes dead-center the weight of the lifting arms, the force stored up in the springs 21 and a portion of the weight of the bucket are all eifective to tend to throw the bucket to loading or digging position wherein the latches 6 engage the catch lug '7. The latches are spring biased to latching position, as will be understood fronrmy other application referred to above. In changing from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4 the pivots 4 and l2 move from positions a and x" to positions a and qc". Distance B becomes C.

The springs 21 aid the action described and make the device smoother in its operation and make it easier to control. They are not, however, absolutely essential to the action. Abutments which engage the lifting arms are sufficient with the organization otherwise described. Obviously, also it is not essential to use the particular types of springs or yielding devices illustrated.

The device shown in Figure 6 is a slight variation of that just described. As before, it has the lifting arms 2 with their extensions 3 pivotally connected as at 4 to the bucket 5. The bucket is provided with the catch lugs '7 which coact with the latches 6. Stop chains 15 are provided for it. Each lifting arm has the same spring 21 engageable with an abutment 20 on the upright structure 18. A hoist line 9 is also extended around pulley 10 but beyond the pulley 10 the hoist line is reeved in a slightly different manner in that it is carried down under pulleys 30 supported for rotation 0;". the extension 3 and then up to brackets 31, the hoist line being secured to the brackets 31 and the brackets 31 being secured to the bucket. The arrangement of Figure 6 operates in substantially the same manner as the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 4, in fact, differs only in the omission of the bail and pulley arrangement 10 and in the slightly different reeving of the hoist line.

With an apparatus embodying the present invention the operation is materially speeded up and. wear and tear on the apparatus is minimized. The bucket is loaded in the usual way and carried in the usual way to the point of discharge. At the point of discharge the latches are released and the bucket swings by gravity to dumping position. Whatever may be the position in the bucket, the operator, to effect its return to normal or digging position, need only take in on the hoist line. This closes the bucket in a certain and sure fashion and yet in a smooth and effective manner.

While I have shown and described two constructions as illustrative of the embodiment of the present invention, it is understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A machine of the character described comprising a lifting member supported for swinging movement, a bucket pivotally interconnected therewith and projecting therebeyond so as to be biased to swing by gravity to dumping position, releasable means between the bucket and 1 lifting member for releasably securing the bucket in loading or digging position, hoisting means interconnected with the bucket and an abutment cooperable with said lifting member for limiting the upward movement thereof whereby said hoisting means may be utilized to swing the bucket from dumping to loading position.

2. A machine of the character described comprising an upright structure, a lifting frame including a pair of lifting arms straddling the upright structure and pivotally supported at their rearward ends, a bucket pivotally interconnected with the forward ends of the lifting arms and biased to swing to dumping position, releasable means between the lifting arms of the bucket for securing the same in loading or digging position, a hoist line extending up over the upright structure and down to and connected with the bucket and means on the upright structure for limiting the upward movement of the lifting arm whereby with the bucket in dumped position the hoist line may be taken in to cause said lifting arm to engage said last mentioned means and effect swinging of the bucket from dumping to loading position.

3. A machine of the character described comprising a mobile frame, a lifting member supported on the frame for swinging movement, an upright structure on said frame intermediate the ends of the lifting member, a bucket pivotally interconnected with the forward end of the lifting member and biased to dumping position, releasable means for securing the bucket in digging position, a. hoist line extending up over the upright structure and down to and connected with the bucket, and an abutment for the lifting member carried by said upright structure.

4. A machine of the character described comprising a mobile frame, a lifting member supported on the frame for swinging movement, an upright structure on the frame intermediate the ends of the lifting member, a bucket pivotally connected with the forward end of the lifting member and biased to dumping position, a hoist line extending up over the upright structure and downwardly toward the bucket, a bail between the hoist line and the bucket, and an abutment on the upright structure for limiting the upward swinging movement of the lifting member whereby the hoist line may be utilized to swing the bucket from dumping to loading position.

5. A machine of the character described comprising a mobile frame, a lifting member having its rear end pivotally supported on the frame, an upright structure supported by the frame, a bucket pivotally connected with the forward end of the lifting member and biased to .dumping position, releasable means between the lifting member and the bucket for releasably securing the latter in digging position, a hoist line extending up over said upright structure and down to and connected with the bucket, and an abutment for the lifting member carried by said upright structure.

6. A machine of the character described comprising a mobile frame, a lifting member having its rear end pivotally supported on theframe, an upright structure supported by the frame, a bucket pivotally connected with the forward end of the liftingmember and biased to dumping position, releasable means between the lifting member and the bucket for releasably securing the latter in digging position, a hoist line extending up over said upright structure and down to and connected with the bucket, an abutment for the lifting member carried by said upright structure, and a leaf spring carried by the lifting member and engageable with said abutment.

'1. A machine of the character described comprising a mobile frame, a. lifting member having its rearward end pivotally supported on said frame, an upright structure on said frame intermediate the ends of the lifting member, a bucket pivotally interconnected with the forward end of the lifting member and biased to dumping position, releasable means for securing the bucket in` digging position, a hoist line extending up over the upright structure and down to and connected with the bucket, said lifting member having a guide pulley under which said hoisting line is trained, and an abutment for the lifting member carried by the upright structure.

8. A machine of the character described comprising an arm supported for swinging movement, a bucket pivotally connected thereto, means limiting the upward swing of said arm, means attached to the bucket effective to raise and lower said bucket and said arm, with said bucket in either dumped or digging position, and means for releasably securing said bucket to said arm in digging position, said limiting means and said raising and lowering means being cooperable to swing the bucket from dumped position to digging position.

9. A machine of the character described comprising an arm supported for swinging movement, a. bucket pivotally connected thereto and biased to swing by gravity to dumping position, means limiting the upward swing of said arm, means for releasably securing the bucket to said arm in digging position, and hoisting means secured to the bucket at apoint so related to the pivotal connection that the moment of force about the pivotal connection created by the combined forces of gravity acting on the arm and tension on the hoisting means, is opposed to and less than the moment of force created by gravity acting on the bucket and tending to swing it to dumped position about the pivotal connection, whereby said limiting means may be utilized in cooperation with said hoisting means to increase the first-mentioned moment of force to be greater than the secondmentioned moment of force to effect swinging of the bucket from dumped to digging position.

LOUIS C. FRANK. 

